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I'm trying to 'go to the press'. Does anyone have any idea on how this is done?
I have a story that I believe needs to be told. It's entertaining, newsworthy, and I'm not looking for money.
What should I do?
I've tried emailing many reporters, no one even responded.
If you have an impressive butt: drop your drawers, take a vid of said monument and put it on Youtube. In today's world this will establish your credentials quicker than anything. After that you come on with your story, and within a few days it will have a zillion tweets and be a crusade not a story.
Send it out as a pseudo, 'Press Release' like that group who manages to get false stories published. I can't think of their name - but they would wrap it in all the trimmings for the mainstream tabloid press to bite on just like the internet / social marketing types do to get 'clicks'.
All you need is one small paper to pick it up and then build a false lead of credibility up the chain of layers as the 'click count chasers' fawn all over it. Remember, you'll need to make it appear controversial via the three Rs of the mainstream media "racy, raunchy, or ridiculous". It seems to be the standard MO.
I am a journalist. I get this everyday. No disrespect, but most everybody has a "story" they think is newsworthy and thinks ought to be in the papers. If I had a dollar for every time I've had somebody say, "You should do a story on this!" But there are many things that go into making a "story" newsworthy. I'd say 90 percent do not have enough widespread public interest to be "newsworthy." So ask yourself: What is the PUBLIC INTEREST level of your story? Is it a story that might help other people? Is it a feel-good "people story" about somebody or something unique to your area? Or is it just something that happened to you that you find curious or odd?
Even if the story is worth looking into, it's quite often impossible for a reporter to simply drop everything and look into it. We're very busy people. There's not enough time in day or week already to follow up on every news tip, so we must choose the ones that are most important and have the widest reader interest.
If you'd like to message me privately with details of your story, I'd be happy to let you know if I think it's plausible.
Also, as others have said, it is unlikely that the Boston Globe or Boston Herald are going to "bite" on a cold story lead. Major metro newspapers seldom do. Your better bet is to reach out to a small local community paper. The bigger papers end up getting a lot of their stories from the small suburban papers, believe it or not.
I am a journalist. I get this everyday. No disrespect, but most everybody has a "story" they think is newsworthy and thinks ought to be in the papers. If I had a dollar for every time I've had somebody say, "You should do a story on this!" But there are many things that go into making a "story" newsworthy. I'd say 90 percent do not have enough widespread public interest to be "newsworthy." So ask yourself: What is the PUBLIC INTEREST level of your story? Is it a story that might help other people? Is it a feel-good "people story" about somebody or something unique to your area? Or is it just something that happened to you that you find curious or odd?
Even if the story is worth looking into, it's quite often impossible for a reporter to simply drop everything and look into it. We're very busy people. There's not enough time in day or week already to follow up on every news tip, so we must choose the ones that are most important and have the widest reader interest.
If you'd like to message me privately with details of your story, I'd be happy to let you know if I think it's plausible.
Also, as others have said, it is unlikely that the Boston Globe or Boston Herald are going to "bite" on a cold story lead. Major metro newspapers seldom do. Your better bet is to reach out to a small local community paper. The bigger papers end up getting a lot of their stories from the small suburban papers, believe it or not.
NEWSBOY
I think u "news people" scrutinize things a bit too much! Maybe let the readers decide if the story was worth printing. I can't read a paper nowadays or watch any "news" because they're all the same! Boring, promote & maintain racism and teach nothing or bring nothing interesting to the reader/viewers attention.
OP: start a blog. Then promote it on Twitter/Facebook/Reddit, etc., and tag the various papers , rather than send them the story and have it buried under millions of others that never get read! I "love" <sarcasm, that email template letting me now they couldn't possibly answer to everyone!
listen to me...you need a catchy title...something with some PIZAZZZ!!! and your story's got a have a dame too! no, no, no...not a dame, a Lady, a Lady with a past
I think u "news people" scrutinize things a bit too much! Maybe let the readers decide if the story was worth printing. I can't read a paper nowadays or watch any "news" because they're all the same! Boring, promote & maintain racism and teach nothing or bring nothing interesting to the reader/viewers attention.
If it all bores you then you are looking at the wrong media. Lots of niche sources out there write about interesting, often untold stuff.
If you want reporters to report on literally everything, maybe you can pump some money into the news industry, because there have been reporter layoffs all over the country. That means they can't just waste their time writing a story so that readers can decide whether it's worth it or not. They obviously have to make the decision before they put in the effort.
So ask yourself: What is the PUBLIC INTEREST level of your story? Is it a story that might help other people? Is it a feel-good "people story" about somebody or something unique to your area? Or is it just something that happened to you that you find curious or odd?
Even if the story is worth looking into, it's quite often impossible for a reporter to simply drop everything and look into it. We're very busy people. There's not enough time in day or week already to follow up on every news tip, so we must choose the ones that are most important and have the widest reader interest.
If you'd like to message me privately with details of your story, I'd be happy to let you know if I think it's plausible.
NEWSBOY
Question....what if it's about corruption? There is a website about it for those who are experiencing
this but it's a discussion forum encouraging people to write their senators and congressmen which
more or less equals nothing.
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